Crews recently began work at the southern edge of the property, the first stage of a transformation project that will give Winrock a new, Interstate 40-fronting facade and, eventually, shop space for the planned Nordstrom Rack, DSW and other retailers.

“This is major,” said Darin Sand of Goodman Realty Group, the company behind the new Winrock Town Center.

Sand said Coronado Wrecking & Salvage already has started demolishing parts of the existing mall structure at the southwest corner of the property. That will make way for a planned two-level, underground parking garage designed to accommodate an estimated 950 cars. Nordstrom Rack and DSW will ultimately be built above that garage, part of a 120,000-square-foot building. Sand said those stores should open in late 2016.

In addition to the parking garage prep, Hart Construction recently began readying the old Bed Bath & Beyond space for its next tenant: Sports Authority. The sporting goods retailer expects to move into that store from its existing (and less visible) Winrock location later this year.

Developer Gary Goodman’s vision for Winrock Town Center has gradually taken shape over the course of the last few years. Since late 2012, Dave & Buster’s, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse and Genghis Grill have joined the Winrock restaurant lineup, while Regal Cinemas also opened a 16-screen multiplex.

Nordstrom Rack and DSW finalized leases last spring. More recently, commercial real-estate broker Anthony Johnson of Pegasus Retail announced that cosmetics chain Ulta had also signed on for Winrock space.

A highly anticipated Joe’s Crab Shack hasn’t yet come to fruition at Winrock, something Sand said was because of delays on the restaurant chain’s side. Once expected to open this spring, Sand said that is now unlikely to happen.